Frosty Matanuska Morning The temperature is -11 degrees as the ice fog hangs listlessly beneath the face of the mighty Chugach Mountains as the Alaska Railroad's annual Colony Christmas train leaves the mainline at MP 150.5 for its 6 mile journey all the way to the end of the Palmer Branch. The low Alaska sun glints off the side of the 6 car train which consists of GP40-2 3014, power car P-30 (an ex Illinois Central E9B unit) 4 "low level domes", one "bistro" car, the ARR's business car #1 "Denali" trailed by GP38-2 2001. Behind the train can be seen the CTC signal protecting the mainline and a work train tucked into the outfit track. Historical note, this would be the last ever train to travel the entire length of the branch right to the old depot in downtown. If you want to see what that looked like check out this post. Matanuska Junction |
